Bottom mount mullion roller

ABSTRACT

Provided is a refrigeration appliance including a refrigerated compartment, and a plurality of doors that, when closed, cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance into the refrigerated compartment. A mullion is pivotally coupled to a distal side of a first door included in the plurality of doors, and is pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a second door when the doors are closed. A roller is provided adjacent to an end of the mullion, and includes a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller. A receiver with an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This application relates generally to an adjustable sealing member for a refrigeration appliance and, more specifically, to a mullion provided with a pivotal roller for adjusting an orientation of the mullion and establishing a seal between opposing doors of a refrigerated compartment.

2. Description of Related Art

Refrigeration appliances with a refrigerated compartment enclosed by opposing doors have grown in popularity in recent years. Each of the opposing doors is hinged at one lateral side of the refrigerator cabinet and pivoted towards the other door to cooperate with a centrally-located surface and seal the refrigerated compartment. Permanently installing the centrally-located sealing surface at a fixed location between the lateral sides of the cabinet would interfere with the insertion of food items into the refrigerated compartment.

To afford users with unobstructed access to the interior of the refrigerated compartment a mullion is installed on one of the doors near where the two doors meet, when closed, instead of at a fixed location between the doors. Pivotally coupling the mullion to one of the doors allows the doors to be opened and closed in any order, yet establish a suitable seal when both doors are closed. Conventionally, a plastic boss is molded as part of the mullion body itself, forming a protrusion that extends vertically above the top of the mullion. This molded plastic part slides over a camming surface to cause the mullion to pivot into the orientation in which it establishes a seal between each of the doors. However, the sliding friction between the molded boss and the camming surface as the molded boss slides over the camming surface subjects the camming surface and the molded boss to extensive wear and tear. Further, the interaction between the molded boss and the camming surface can cause an undesirable amount of noise.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art for an adjustable mullion for a refrigeration appliance that pivots about an axis to roll along a portion of a pivot guide to cause adjustment of the mullion as a door of the refrigeration appliance is closed.

According to one aspect, the subject application involves a refrigeration appliance including a refrigerated compartment, and a plurality of doors that, when closed, cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance into the refrigerated compartment. A mullion is pivotally coupled to an opposing end of a first door included in the plurality of doors, and is pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a second door included in the plurality of doors when the doors are closed. A roller is provided adjacent to an end of the mullion along a vertical axis of the mullion, and includes a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller. A receiver with an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation is also provided.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a refrigeration appliance including a freezer compartment being refrigerated to maintain food at a sub-freezing storage temperature, and a fresh food compartment arranged at an elevation vertically above the fresh food compartment and refrigerated to maintain food at a storage temperature above freezing, but below room temperature. A first door is pivotally coupled to a first lateral side of a cabinet defining the fresh food compartment and a second door is pivotally coupled to a second lateral side of the cabinet, opposite the first lateral side. The first and second doors are arranged in a French door, or opposite-opening configuration and comprise distal sides that cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance leading into the fresh food compartment. A mullion is pivotally coupled adjacent to the distal side of the first door, the mullion being pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a gasket provided to the second door once the doors are fully closed. A roller is provided adjacent to an end of the mullion along a vertical axis of the mullion, and includes a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller. A receiver provided to the refrigeration appliance includes an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a refrigeration appliance;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the refrigeration appliance of FIG. 1 with refrigerated compartments exposed;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of a mullion encircled in FIG. 2, wherein the mullion is in an open orientation;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the mullion encircled in FIG. 2, wherein the mullion is in a closed orientation; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a roller assembly provided to a top portion of an adjustable mullion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

It is also to be noted that the phrase “at least one of”, if used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example, the phrase “at least one of a first widget and a second widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise, “at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and the third widget.

An illustrative embodiment of a refrigeration appliance 10 in the form of a so-called bottom-mount refrigerator is shown in FIG. 1 with the doors 12, 14, 16 closed, and in FIG. 2 with the refrigerated compartments 20, 22 exposed. For the sake of clearly showing the interior of a freezer compartment 20 in FIG. 2, the drawer and door 12 provided to the freezer compartment 20 have been removed. As shown, the bottom-mount refrigeration appliance 10 includes a cabinet 26 defining the freezer compartment 20, which is refrigerated by a refrigeration system to maintain food at a sub-freezing (e.g., below 32° F.) food storage temperature. A fresh food compartment 22 is arranged at an elevation vertically above the freezer compartment 20, and is refrigerated by the refrigeration system to maintain food at a storage temperature above freezing and below room temperature (e.g., between temperatures of 32° F. and 45° F.).

Access to the freezer compartment 20 is restricted by a door 12 coupled to a drawer (not shown) that is mounted on a plurality of drawer slides to be pulled from and then returned into the freezer compartment 20. A handle 24 (FIG. 1) provided adjacent to an exposed outer surface of the door 12 can be pulled to thereby separate the door 12 from the cabinet 26 and extract the drawer from the freezer compartment 20.

To enclose the fresh food compartment 22 a pair of opposing-swing doors 14, 16 are pivotally coupled to opposite lateral sides of the cabinet 26 defining the fresh food compartment 22. Each door 14, 16 is coupled to the cabinet 26 by a hinge assembly that maintains a proximate side 28 (FIG. 1) of each door 14, 16 adjacent to the cabinet 26 as the doors 14, 16 are adjusted between open and closed orientations. Each door 14, 16 also includes a distal side 30 (FIG. 2) that, when both doors 14, 16 are closed, opposes the distal side 30 of the opposite one of the doors 14, 16. In other words, as the doors 14, 16 are being opened, the distal side 30 of each door 14, 16 swings in an arc outwardly away from a central region of the open front of the fresh food compartment 22 about a pivotal axis adjacent to the proximate side 28 of the respective door 14, 16.

In the closed orientation shown in FIG. 1, the doors 14, 16 extend over a vast majority of the width of the entrance to the fresh food compartment 22, except for the gap separating the opposing distal side 30 of the doors 14, 16, which are substantially parallel and face each other while the doors 14, 16 are closed. To seal the space between the opposing distal sides 30 of the doors 14, 16 in the closed orientation, a pivotal mullion 32 is provided adjacent to the distal side 30 of one of the doors 14, 16. For the sake of brevity and clearly describing the refrigeration appliance 10 according to the present embodiment, the mullion 32 is shown in the drawings and described as being coupled to the right door 16. However, it is to be understood that the mullion 32 can be provided adjacent to the distal side 30 of either door 14, 16 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The mullion 32 is formed as an elongated plastic member with a planar sealing surface 34 against which a compressible gasket 36 provided to the opposite door 14 is pressed when both doors 14, 16 are closed. The contact between the gasket 36 and the sealing surface 34 of the mullion 32 establishes a substantially air-tight seal that interferes with the flow of air through the gap between the opposing distal sides 30 of the doors 14, 16, while closed. The gasket 36 can be formed from any deformable material that is compressed when pressed against the sealing surface 34, yet at least partially rebounds in an elastic manner when no longer pressed against the sealing surface 34.

To allow the door 16 provided with the mullion 32 to be opened and closed while the other door 14 is closed, the mullion 32 is pivotally coupled to the door 16 by one, or a plurality of hinges 38. The mullion 32 can pivot approximately ninety) (90°) degrees relative to the door 16 about an axis 40 (FIG. 2) established by the hinge(s) 38, between a closed orientation and an open orientation. In the closed orientation, the sealing surface 34 is arranged in a plane approximately parallel with a major plane of the doors 14, 16, while the doors 14, 16 are fully closed. In this orientation, the gasket 36 provided to the other door 14 can approach the sealing surface 34 in a direction of travel that is substantially perpendicular to the sealing surface 34 immediately before making contact with the sealing surface 34. In other words, with the sealing surface 34 in the closed orientation, the distal side 30 of the door 14 travels along an arc as that door 14 is swung shut. Over the final short distance (e.g., one inch) the gasket 36 travels toward the sealing surface 34, the gasket 36 travels in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the sealing surface 34, thereby allowing the gasket 36 to be compressed between the door 14 and the sealing surface 34 without sliding a significant distance over the sealing surface 34.

To allow the door 16 with the mullion 32 to be fully closed while the other door 14 is already fully closed and compress the gasket 36 between the door 14 and the sealing surface 34, the mullion 32 is to be pivoted relative to the door 16 from an open orientation to the closed orientation behind the gasket 36. In the open orientation the sealing surface 34 is approximately parallel with the distal side 30 of the door 16 so the mullion 32 can pass the distal side 30 of the other door 14 as the door 16 is being closed without making contact with the distal side 30 of the other door 14. The mullion 32 is also oriented with the sealing surface 34 rotated approximately 90° in a clockwise direction about the axis 40 relative to the door 16 (when viewed from above in FIG. 2) from the orientation of the sealing surface 34 in the closed orientation relative to the door 16.

A roller 40 is provided adjacent to the top and/or bottom of the mullion 32 along a longitudinal axis of the mullion 32 that is substantially vertical. The roller is shown clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, which are enlarged views of a portion of the mullion 32 within the circle 3 appearing in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows the mullion 32 adjusted to the open orientation, and FIG. 4 shows the mullion 32 pivoted to the closed orientation. The roller 40 cooperates with a receiver 42 to cause pivotal adjustment of the mullion 32. The receiver 42 is provided to an upper portion of the cabinet 26 near the top of the refrigeration appliance 10, and remains stationary as the doors 14, 16 are opened and closed. For example, the receiver 42 can optionally be integrally molded as part of monolithic liner defining the fresh food compartment 22, attached as a separate component to the liner using an adhesive or other suitable fastener, or otherwise mounted to the cabinet 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, the mullion 32 in the open orientation approaches an aperture 44 leading to an arcuate camming surface 46 of the receiver 42 that defines a path over which the roller 40 rolls to gradually pivot the mullion 32 between the open and closed orientations. As shown, the roller 40 includes a circular hub 48 formed from a rigid material such as a metal, plastic or other synthetic material, or any other suitably rigid material that avoids deformation during adjustment of the mullion 32. The hub 48 defines an arcuate exterior surface that is at least partially protected by a soft material 50, relative to the hardness of the material forming the hub 48, which is shaped in FIGS. 3-5 as a band of rubberized material that extends about the entire circumference of the hub 48. The soft material 50 can be a compressible rubber band, or any other material that is softer than the material forming the exterior periphery of the hub 48 to minimize audible sounds resulting from contact between the roller 40 and the receiver 42 during pivotal adjustment of the mullion 32.

The hub 48 is pivotally mounted to the top of the mullion 32, as illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 5, to rotate about a mounting post 52 that extends into a socket 54 molded as part of the mullion 32. The socket 54 can optionally be reinforced by one or more molded gussets 56 to ensure the socket 54 can maintain the vertical orientation of the mounting post 52 during pivotal adjustment of the mullion 32. With the hub 48 mounted to rotate about the mounting pose 52, a cap 58 can be installed to interfere with removal of the hub 48 from the mounting post 52, but not rigidly fixed to the hub 48 to prevent the hub 48 from rotating about the mounting post 52. The cap 58 can optionally be affixed to the mounting post 52 within a central recess 60 of the hub 48 by an adhesive, a lock nut or other suitable fastener to provide the securing force that maintains the cap 58 and the hub 48 in place.

Referring once again to FIGS. 3 and 4, as the door 16 supporting the mullion 32 is closed, the roller 40 enters the receiver 42 through the aperture 44. Once the door 16 has been sufficiently closed, the soft material 50 makes contact with the arcuate surface 46 of the receive 42. Further advancement of the door 16 toward the fully-closed orientation causes the soft material 50 to roll over the arcuate surface 46, and the roller 40 to rotate about the mounting pin 52. According to the configuration shown in FIG. 3 for the door 16 on the right side of the cabinet 26, the roller 40 rotates in a clockwise direction indicated by arrow 62 when viewed from above. The arcuate surface 46 causes the roller 40 to travel in a direction generally away from the door 16, thereby causing the mullion 32 to be pivotally adjusted toward the closed orientation in a counterclockwise direction about the hinge(s) 38, indicated by arrow 64 in FIG. 3, relative to the door 16 when viewed from above. With the roller 40 fully received by the receiver 42 as shown in FIG. 4, the door 16 is fully closed and the mullion 32 is in the closed orientation, with the sealing surface 34 imparting a compressive force on the gasket 36 provided to the other door 14.

Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigeration appliance comprising: a refrigerated compartment; a plurality of doors that, when closed, cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance into the refrigerated compartment; a mullion pivotally coupled to an opposing end of a first door included in the plurality of doors, the mullion being pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a second door included in the plurality of doors once the doors are closed; a roller provided adjacent to an end of the mullion along a vertical axis of the mullion, the roller comprising a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller; and a receiver comprising an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation.
 2. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1, wherein the roller is rotatably coupled to the mullion by a post that extends vertically into an interior of the mullion, the post establishing an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the mullion.
 3. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1, wherein the roller comprises a circular hub formed from a plastic material, and the rubberized material extends continuously over an entire extent of a circumference of the circular hub.
 4. The refrigeration appliance of claim 3, wherein the roller rotates in an angular direction that is opposite an angular direction in which the mullion rotates during a transition from the open orientation to the closed orientation.
 5. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1, wherein the arcuate surface of the receiver forms a suitable portion of an arch to pivot the mullion approximately ninety) (90°) degrees from the open orientation as the first door is closed.
 6. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1, wherein the receiver is provided adjacent to a top of the refrigerated compartment.
 7. The refrigeration appliance of claim 1, wherein the second door comprises a fixed gasket that is position on the second door to press against the mullion in the closed orientation to form the seal.
 8. A refrigeration appliance comprising: a freezer compartment being refrigerated to maintain food at a sub-freezing storage temperature; a fresh food compartment arranged at an elevation vertically above the fresh food compartment and refrigerated to maintain food at a storage temperature above freezing and below room temperature; a first door pivotally coupled to a first lateral side of a cabinet defining the fresh food compartment and a second door pivotally coupled to a second lateral side of the cabinet, opposite the first lateral side, wherein the first and second doors are arranged in a French door configuration and comprise distal sides that cooperate with each other to collectively enclose an entrance leading into the fresh food compartment; a mullion pivotally coupled adjacent to the distal side of the first door, the mullion being pivotal between an open orientation when the first door is open and a closed orientation in which a seal is established between the mullion and a gasket provided to the second door once the doors are closed; a roller provided adjacent to an end of the mullion along a vertical axis of the mullion, the roller comprising a rubberized material that extends about at least a portion of an exterior periphery of the roller; and a receiver comprising an arcuate surface over which the exterior periphery of the roller with the rubberized material travels to adjust the mullion between the open orientation and the closed orientation.
 9. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8 further comprising a handle having a longitudinal axis that is vertically oriented adjacent the distal side of each door.
 10. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8, wherein the roller is rotatably coupled to the mullion by a post that extends vertically into an interior of the mullion, the post establishing an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the mullion.
 11. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8, wherein the roller comprises a circular hub formed from a plastic material, and the rubberized material extends continuously over an entire extent of a circumference of the circular hub.
 12. The refrigeration appliance of claim 11, wherein the roller rotates in an angular direction that is opposite an angular direction in which the mullion rotates during a transition from the open orientation to the closed orientation.
 13. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8, wherein the arcuate surface of the receiver forms a suitable portion of an arch to pivot the mullion approximately ninety (90°) degrees from the open orientation as the first door is closed.
 14. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8, wherein the receiver is provided adjacent to a top of the refrigerated compartment.
 15. The refrigeration appliance of claim 8, wherein the second door comprises a fixed gasket that is position on the second door to press against the mullion in the closed orientation to form the seal. 